Throw out the Statistics

Statistically speaking, the Houston Dynamo do not have much of a chance Sunday.

LA has not lost a single game all year in all competitions at home.

The Galaxy salary is five times that of the Dynamo.

Eighteen points separated both teams in the standings playing an identical schedule.

Houston is playing against one of the stoutest defenses all year without their best offensive player who also serves as its dead ball specialist and penalty taker.

In Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane many consider LA to have the three best players on the field Sunday.

Many media members are coining the Galaxy one of the best ever prior to the MLS Cup final being played.

However in a single game Championship, statistics are wholly irrelevant. Just ask the 2005 USC Trojans which ESPN considered the greatest college football team ever, before they lost to the University of Texas. Or you can ask the 1995 Houston Rockets, the 2010 Colorado Rapids, or even the 2009 Real Salt Lake team that upset many of these same Galaxy players.

The Dynamo are also not unfamiliar to the underdog role. Just two weeks ago, many counted them out as Brad Davis left the game injured. Many thought they would lose to the Union as well. However, they were absolutely impeccable defensively in the first three playoff games and have won all three games by a combined 5-1 margin.

It also helps that Houston’s best attribute, it’s size and ability to score on set pieces has been an area where the Galaxy have struggled of late. Other than Omar Gonzalez, the Galaxy are relatively small as a team. Will Houston get the set piece delivery it needs to punish LA for conceding sloppy fouls or too many corners?

The game might just serve as the coming out party for Omar Gonzalez or Geoff Cameron as the next best national team prospect. It could also bolster the chances of two young goalkeepers like Tally Hall or Josh Saunders. Beckham or Donovan or Brian Ching could cement their MLS legacies as one of the best to ever play in the league. One way or the other, it should be an epic final.